Over 10,000 people killed in road accidents in 2014: NCRB

Last year over 10,000 people were killed, while around 27,000 injured in road accidents across Rajasthan.

A report points out that Jaipur is among the top 10 cities with 2,801 road accident deaths reported last year. (HT File Photo)

Last year over 10,000 people were killed, while around 27,000 injured in road crashes across the state.

According to a recently released National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2014, the number of road accident deaths in the state is the fifth highest in the country at 10,287, after Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The report points out that the state capital is among the top 10 cities with 2,801 road accident deaths reported last year.

Also a total of 844 road accident injuries — third highest in the country — has been reported during the period in the Pink City.

The desert state has also recorded the seventh highest number of road rage injury cases in the country at 27,481, after Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

The NCRB report points out that over speeding (47.9%), careless driving (41.5%), driving under influence of alcohol (2.6%) and defect in mechanical condition of vehicle (2.8%) are the major cause of road accidents in India. The report reveals that two-wheeler riders are most vulnerable on the killer roads of the state, followed by trucks, cars, jeeps and buses.

At least 2,320 cases of road rage involve two-wheelers.

The data assumes significance as the cabinet sub-committee for road safety action plan, formed in July, met for the first time in the state capital on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

During the meeting the home minister directed officials concerned to hold a road safety week from September 21 to 26. He told officials to “focus on over speeding and careless driving,” saying that these were the two major causes of deaths in road accidents.

Kataria has directed officials to ensure that signage, reflectors and speed breakers are put on city throughfares, especially national highways.

He also asked the administration to implement helmet and seat belt rule strictly.

“Officials of PWD, transport, home and health departments have been asked to submit actionable points by September 1 for road safety,” said a department official.